Contour vise

ABSTRACT

A device for holding irregular objects to enable a fixed frame of reference for an object, irrespective of its contour, and including a frame and differentially positioned, angularly related, clamping elements.

[ 51 May 23,1972

United States Patent Allen et a1.

[5 CONTOUR VISE 2,416,703 3/1947 Marshall.. 1121 1mm Mary Allen; Allen, both of ifiijll? Z133? fiil iiiiii....... LCC Plk, i SOddy, Tenn. vondersaaxnm 22 Filed: July 23, 1969 1,802,914 4/1931 Grubermu 2,568,952 9 1951 Dailey... pp 844,109 3,336,551 8/1967 125/12, 35; 269/8, 246, 266, ABSTRACT A device for holding irregular objects to enable a fixed frame 511 Int.Cl.............. [58] FieldofSearch.........

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References Cited of reference for an object, irrespective of its contour, and including a frame and differentially positioned, angularly related, clamping elements.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,089,478 Jones.......................................125/35 5Claims,7Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 23 1972 S N mm EL A w. E Y- R A M HARRY W. ALLEN ATTORNEY CONTOUR VISE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention provides improvements in available devices for holding irregularly contoured objects and has particular application to semi-precious stones or rocks. The latter have become the subject of wide-spread interest, both from a hobby and a research standpoint. When uncovered, for converting the stones or rocks to a useful or valuable form, they must be cut and polished. Due to their irregular contour, this has been a most difficult procedure. Ordinary inexpensive vise or chuck devices do not serve and have not served to adequately secure a rock, for example, so an average person can subdivide it into precise parallel slabs or specimens. The various planes of an ordinary find have inherently produced such difficulties.

The present invention was developed to overcome this particular problem in an inexpensive manner and lend improvements in the vise art in general, for similar applications. The nature of the embodiments of the present invention is such to put it into the reach of the ordinary hobbyist who wishes to develop and cut his own specimens and form his own stones.

In a preferred embodiment the invention provides an open frame including a saddle portion and an overlying arch portion, through the latter of which project a plurality of clamping elements adapted to selectively engage various angularly related surface planes of an object seated to the saddle.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide improvements in holding devices in the form of a vise or chuck having a particularly advantageous application to semi-precious stones and rocks which render the same economical to fabricate, more efficient and satisfactory in use and unlikely to malfunction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holding device in the form of a frame for establishing in a simple and facile manner a fixed frame of reference for an irregularly contoured object enabling for example that portions thereof may be sliced therefrom in parallel planes.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a vise or like holding device possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics, and the means and mode of application here described.

With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings wherein preferred but not the only forms of embodiment of the invention are shown,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modification of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section of the device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a exploded view of a portion of the device of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a detail thereof.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

' DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 2, the invention device basically comprises an open frame 11 including an inverted U-shaped portion at its top, the uppermost surface of which is arched. The U-shaped portion has the dependent extremities of its legs bridged by a bar having a concavity formed in its upper surface to produce a saddle portion 1 1.

The arched portion of the frame has formed thereon a series of apertures 12. spaced from side to side and from front to back. The apertures 12 are drilled perpendicular to the uppermost surface of the frame and tapped for threaded engagement by screws 13. As will be obvious from the drawings, the screws 13 are angularly inclined to each other and adapted for a variable projection interiorly of the frame 11 and towards the saddle portion 1 1.

This frame 1 1 per se is adapted to receive therein a rock R to seat on the saddle portion 11 and be fixed thereto by the various screws 13. Although the rock is irregularly contoured, the angularity of relation of the screws 13 enable the surface of the rock to be engaged in various angularly related planes. By this means the rock can be securely fixed in the open frame to project to either end. The frame may then or previously be fixed in place whereby to establish a fixed frame of reference for the rock R. This being the case, one obviously can take successive cuts in the projected portions of the rock, even in precise parallel planes, since the rock is secure. One can thereby extract the most valuable results from the rock.

Where the frame is to be held to a fiat surface or surfaces. at base 10 is added to its bottom. This base is added in order that the bottom, side and front planes of the assembly may be ground square with each other to facilitate precision use thereof. The base 10 is a plate flanged upwardly at one side. One end of plate 10 is fixed by screws to the underside and to one side of the frame, as seen in FIG. 2, while the remainder projects as a stabilizing extension of the base of the frame.

Where a rock has been formed with a flat, one face of frame 11 may be closed by a suitably secured plate 14. Within the opening of the frame, noting FIG. 2, plate 14 has fixed centrally thereof one or both of the hardwood discs l5, 16, by means such as the screw 17. The rock may then be inserted, as seen in FIG. 3, to have its fiat abut the hardwood disc 16 as a base of reference. The rock seats in the saddle l1 and is clamped at various planes of its surface by the various angularly related screws 13 to which it is exposed, in an obvious manner.

Again one may have a secure containment of therock in a fixed position so one may insure a fixed frame of reference for the cutting tool.

FIGS. 4-7 show an alternative usage of the frame 11 including base 10. In this case the open frame is closed at its opposite face, remote from the projected portion of base 10, by a suitably secured non-magnetic metal plate 20. The outermost surface of the rectangular plate 20 has superposed on its bottom and side peripheral edges a U-shaped retention frame 23 made of non-magnetic material. Fixed centrally of the inner face of plate 20, within the opening in frame 11, is a magnet 21, held thereto by a strap. The frame 23 is adapted to nest therein a metal plate 22 to be magnetically held to plate 20 by the magnet 21.

This last described modification of the invention is used where a valuable rock or stone having a flatted surface must be fully utilized and cut in slabs, for example, to its full extent. In this case the fiat of the rock is attached to plate 22 by glue of suitable nature. Then the plate 22 may be inserted in frame 23 and magnetically fixed in reference to plate 20. Once this occurs, the device may be held or clamped, establishing a fixed frame of reference for a cutting tool. In this manner it is insured that each cut may be made with positive control and knowledge the rock per se has a secure position and ,is established as required for optimal results.

As-indicated the application of the invention is obviously not limited by that here illustrated by way of example.

Note that in application to stone or rock as here illustrated, the invention enables a rock to be sawed in parallel segments from end to end with a minimum of equipment and with a minimum of effort.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A contour vise for lapidary use in sawing a held rock into parallel sided segments, including a supporting frame having a front face presenting a flat planar surface, and means for mounting a rock in a fixed relation to said frame and in any desired orientation to project at least a portion thereof relatively to said front planar surface for visual segmental slicing thereof to a plane at or adjacent to said front surface, said frame having a lateral and a longitudinal dimension and being formed with a through longitudinal opening to receive a rock, said mounting means including a plurality of individually adjustable elements arranged in a pattern of lateral and longitu dinal extent and each adjust'able differentially of the others to secure the rock against movement relative to the frame, said elements achieving a configuration conforming contact with the rock, irrespective of the attitude thereof, in senses both laterally of and longitudinally of the frame, said frame being constructed with laterally spaced apart side walls, with an interconnecting bottom wall an upwardly facing surface of which is saddle-shaped, and with an overlying top wall, said individually adjustable elements variously disposing in said top wall to project therethrough into said through longitudinal opening, said bottom wall and said side walls being formed so that outwardly facing surfaces of said side walls are parallel to one another and square to a downwardly facing surface of said bottom wall for precision mounting of said frame in a saw clamp or the like.

2. A contour vise for lapidary use in sawing a held rock into parallel sided segments, including a supporting frame having a front face presenting a flat planar surface, and means for mounting a rock in a fixed relation to said frame and in any desired orientation to project at least a portion thereof relatively to said front planar surface for visual segmental slicing thereof to a plane at or adjacent to said front surface, said frame having a lateral and a longitudinal dimension and being formed with a through longitudinal opening to receive a rock, said mounting means including a plurality of individually adjustable elements arranged in a pattern of lateral and longitudinal extent and each adjustable differentially of the others to secure the rock against movement relative to the frame, said elements achieving a configuration conforming contact with the rock, irrespective of the attitude thereof, in senses both laterally of and longitudinally of the frame, the structure of said vise providing that the balance of the rock remaining in the frame may be out after the portion projecting beyond said front face of the frame has been cut up to said front face and in a manner to maintain parallelism of the subsequently cut segments to the first cut segments, said frame having a rear face, characterized by a closure plate removably mounted to the rear face of said frame and presenting a forwardly facing flat planar abutment surface, the uncut balance of the rock being reoriented in the frame with its cut face seating to said flat abutment surface and selected individually adjustable elements being adjusted as required to secure the rock in such seated position.

3. A contour vise according to claim 2, characterized by adapter means on said abutment surface projecting within said opening as required to project an uncut portion of the rock relatively to the said front face of said frame.

4. A contour vise for lapidary use in sawing a held rock into parallel sided segments, including a supporting frame having a front face presenting a flat planar surface, and means for mounting a rock in a fixed relation to said frame and in any desired orientation to project at least a portion thereof relatively to said front planar surface for visual segmental slicing thereof to a plane at or adjacent to said front surface, said mounting means HlClUdlflg a plate unrt fastened to the sard front face of said frame having a magnetic portion, and a pallet-plate subject to magnetic influence adapted to have a rock detachably mounted thereto, held magnetically to an outwardly facing surface of said plate unit, the latter providing marginal support for said pallet-plate through a recess conforming approximately in depth to the thickness of said palletplate.

5. A contour vise for lapidary use in sawing a held rock into parallel sided segments, including a supporting frame having a front face presenting a flat planar surface, and means for mounting a rock in a fixed relation to said frame and in any desired orientation to project at least a portion thereof relatively to said front planar surface for visual segmental slicing thereof to a plane at or adjacent to said front surface, said frame having a lateral and a longitudinal dimension and being formed with a through longitudinal opening to receive a rock, said mounting means including a plurality of individually adjustable elements arranged in a pattern of lateral and longitudinal extent and each adjustable differentially of the others to secure the rock against movement relative to the frame, said elements achieving a configuration conforming contact with the rock, irrespective of the attitude thereof, in senses both laterally of and longitudinally of the frame, said frame being constructed with laterally spaced apart side walls, with an interconnecting bottom wall an upwardly facing surface of which is saddle-shaped, and with an overlying top wall, said individually adjustable elements variously disposing in said top wall to project therethrough into and through said longitudinal opening, said top wall having an arcuate configuration and the lateral pattern of adjustable elements comprising multiple contour seeking set screws in generally opposing relation to the said saddle-shaped surface of said bottom wall. 

1. A contour vise for lapidary use in sawing a held rock into parallel sided segments, including a supporting frame having a front face presenting a flat planar surface, and means for mounting a rock in a fixed relation to said frame and in any desired orientation to project at least a portion thereof relatively to said front planar surface for visual segmental slicing thereof to a plane at or adjacent to said front surface, said frame having a lateral and a longitudinal dimension and being formed with a through longitudinal opening to receive a rock, said mounting means including a plurality of individually adjustable elements arranged in a pattern of lateral and longitudinal extent and each adjust-able differentially of the others to secure the rock against movement relative to the frame, said elements achieving a configuration conforming contact with the rock, irrespective of the attitude thereof, in senses both laterally of and longitudinally of the frame, said frame being constructed with laterally spaced apart side walls, with an interconnecting bottom wall an upwardly facing surface of which is saddle-shaped, and with an overlying top wall, said individually adjustable elements variously disposing in said top wall to project therethrough into said through longitudinal opening, said bottom wall and said side walls being formed so that outwardly facing surfaces of said side walls are parallel to one another and square to a downwardly facing surface of said bottom wall for precision mounting of said frame in a saw clamp or the like.
 2. A contour vise for lapidary use in sawing a held rock into parallel sided segments, including a supporting frame having a front face presenting a flat planar surface, and means for mounting a rock in a fixed relation to said frame and in any desired orientation to project at least a portion thereof relatively to said front planar surface for visual segmental slicing thereof to a plane at or adjacent to said front surface, said frame having a lateral and a longitudinal dimension and being formed with a through longitudinal opening to receive a rock, said mounting means including a plurality of individually adjustable elements arranged in a pattern of lateral and longitudinal extent and each adjustable differentially of the others to secure the rock against movement relative to the frame, said elements achieving a configuration conforming contact with the rock, irrespective of the attitude thereof, in senses both laterally of and longItudinally of the frame, the structure of said vise providing that the balance of the rock remaining in the frame may be cut after the portion projecting beyond said front face of the frame has been cut up to said front face and in a manner to maintain parallelism of the subsequently cut segments to the first cut segments, said frame having a rear face, characterized by a closure plate removably mounted to the rear face of said frame and presenting a forwardly facing flat planar abutment surface, the uncut balance of the rock being reoriented in the frame with its cut face seating to said flat abutment surface and selected individually adjustable elements being adjusted as required to secure the rock in such seated position.
 3. A contour vise according to claim 2, characterized by adapter means on said abutment surface projecting within said opening as required to project an uncut portion of the rock relatively to the said front face of said frame.
 4. A contour vise for lapidary use in sawing a held rock into parallel sided segments, including a supporting frame having a front face presenting a flat planar surface, and means for mounting a rock in a fixed relation to said frame and in any desired orientation to project at least a portion thereof relatively to said front planar surface for visual segmental slicing thereof to a plane at or adjacent to said front surface, said mounting means including a plate unit fastened to the said front face of said frame having a magnetic portion, and a pallet-plate subject to magnetic influence adapted to have a rock detachably mounted thereto, held magnetically to an outwardly facing surface of said plate unit, the latter providing marginal support for said pallet-plate through a recess conforming approximately in depth to the thickness of said pallet-plate.
 5. A contour vise for lapidary use in sawing a held rock into parallel sided segments, including a supporting frame having a front face presenting a flat planar surface, and means for mounting a rock in a fixed relation to said frame and in any desired orientation to project at least a portion thereof relatively to said front planar surface for visual segmental slicing thereof to a plane at or adjacent to said front surface, said frame having a lateral and a longitudinal dimension and being formed with a through longitudinal opening to receive a rock, said mounting means including a plurality of individually adjustable elements arranged in a pattern of lateral and longitudinal extent and each adjustable differentially of the others to secure the rock against movement relative to the frame, said elements achieving a configuration conforming contact with the rock, irrespective of the attitude thereof, in senses both laterally of and longitudinally of the frame, said frame being constructed with laterally spaced apart side walls, with an interconnecting bottom wall an upwardly facing surface of which is saddle-shaped, and with an overlying top wall, said individually adjustable elements variously disposing in said top wall to project therethrough into and through said longitudinal opening, said top wall having an arcuate configuration and the lateral pattern of adjustable elements comprising multiple contour seeking set screws in generally opposing relation to the said saddle-shaped surface of said bottom wall. 